Game.



Na. 713,275. Patented Nov. |902. c. M. Amma GAME.

(Application led July 29; 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

*mi Nnnms #Eriks cu, Punraunjo.. v/Asmuswn. D. c,

GAME.

(Application filed July 29, 1902.)

2 sheets-snm 2.

with uses' Tn: Nonms PETERS ca. PHcTa'LITl-lo.. wAsNmc'foN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. ATKIN S, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO PING PONG POOL CO., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GAM-E.

srEcIFIcA'rIoN forming peilt ef Letters Patent lNo. 713,275,f1etea November 11, 1902. Application tiled July 29, 1902. SerialvNo. 117,433. (No model.)

T0 all whom; it lmayconcern':

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. ATKINs, aY citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification. j l

The invention relates toimprovements in games, and has particular'reference to a game for which I have adopted the arbitrary name ping-pong pool.

The object of the invention is to provide a table or other support with a pool-frame having suitably arranged numbered pockets adapted to receive a ball, the pockets being covered by a netting the mesh of which is such that a ball can only pass into the pockets when it is delivered with some force, the meshes also servingy to retain the balls in the pockets, once having been deposited therein.

In playing the game the player has a racket, and the balls are dropped upon' the support on which the pool-frame is mounted, and it is struck upon the rebound with force to drive it through the mesh. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide ready and convenient means for collecting the balls after they have been delivered to the pool-frame. This preferably consists of a row of pockets ina horizontal plane communicating with each otherwhen the rear of the frame is opened, the balls rolling into a chute, which empties into a drawer.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved game. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the pool-frame looking from the rear, the door being partially raised. Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the door entirely raised to expose the designating numbers and squares. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of the pool-frame. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

The same numerals refer to like parts in all the iigures.

1 represents a table or other support having legs 2 to bring the game in convenient reach of the players. The table may be covered with any'material best adapted for neatness and convenience in playing the game.

At one end of the table is a pool-frame 3,

' mounted on a substantial base 4 to retain it in proper position. Within the frame is fastened, by screw or the like, an inner frame 4,

which forms one of the vital elements of my invention. Extending vertically across the frame 4a are, preferably, six strips 5, while extending horizontally across the frame are, preferably, four strips'or partitions 6, forming what I shall hereinafter refer to as pockets 7C Strips 6 incline`slightly toward the rear 6o and/to one side sufciently to cause the balls 8 to roll, and to retain the balls on said strips a small flange 9 is provided. On the side of the frame toward which the strips incline is a chute 10,'into which the balls enter as they 65 roll down said strips, and this chute communicates with a drawer 11, located in the base 4.

L Vertical strips 5 Yare notched, as at 13, to

permit the balls to pass from one pocket to 7o the other when gathering them; but these notches are covered while the game is in progress, which will be described further on.

.A netting 12, of cord, wire, 0r other substantially elastic-like material, is stretched in 7 5 front of the pockets, t-he meshes being of such width as to permit the passage of a ball when it is delivered with some force, and the meshes are arranged'so that some of the threads forming the same will be in' alinement 8o with the strips forming the pockets, this serving to uniformly distribute. an equal number of meshes to eachA pocket, that all the players may have the same chance in aiming for any particular pocket. To provide f urther elastic'ity, I may place thev netting 12V a short distance in front'of the strips 5 and 6, with strips of 'cord or other elastic material intermediate said strips 5 and Gand the netting 12. To present a neat appearance, the inner 9o frame, as I have stated, is within the outer frame, and to avoid cutting or wearing away of the threads when assembling the two frames a groove 15 surrounds frame 4a, and communicating therewith are numerous openings 16, through which the threadsy forming the mesh are laced. Hence the threads once stretched are held so by being confined between the two frames, and yet they are protected against undue friction when one frame is slid roo into the other. One frame is slightly wider than its companion to accommodate a doorframe 16a, hinged to the frame 3 at- 17. The inner side of the door-frame 16a is covered by oil-cloth or like material and has designated 1o5 thereon fteen squares with a numeral in each, ranging from l to 15,7 to indicate points in the game, said designated squares being located opposite the pockets 7 when the door 18 is closed. The door 18 bears projections 19 of the same shape as the notches 13 in the strips 5 and into which and notches 20 in the iianges 9 the projections fit when the door is closed, the latter being held in such position by a catch 2l. Vhen the door is down, it bears against the strips 5 and 6 and the individuality of the pockets is maintained, and a ball delivered in any particular pocket remains there until liberated by the lifting of the door, when it is free to roll down toward one side to the chute. The purpose in making the door of cloth or other material is to prevent the balls rebounding and possibly being forced back onto the table when they are delivered; but by using such material they fall immediately the door is struck, so that when the player is successful in landing a ball in a particular pocket which represents so many points the ball will remain in that pocket.

In playing a game of this character it is desirable that provision be made for misplaysthat is to say, it not infrequently happens that a ball is delivered outside the ield of the mesh, especially so when inexperienced persons are playing. To meet this requirement, screens 25 and 26 are hinged to the frame 3, and these may be folded when the game is out of use. Should a ball be delivered outside the netting and within the tield of the screen, its progress will be stopped, when it will fall either on the table or floor. This saves considerable unnecessary running around when the players make wild plays. To further prevent spreading of the balls, the said screens 25 and 26 may be folded in any desired distance toward the field of play and made ot any desired size.

In playing my improved game it is to be understood any number may play, and various-colored balls are employed, each player selecting a particular color and each providing himself with a racket 27. In starting the game the first player-forinstance,with White balls-drops a ball on the table and when it rebounds he drives it with his racket 27 toward a particular pocket,which may oe pocket representing ten points. If 11e is successful in directingr his ball and it is delivered with sufficient force, it will spread the mesh it strikes and enter the pocket. This counts ten points for him when the results are tabulated; but suppose the ball should strike one ot the threads squarely notwithstanding the force'with which it has been sent,or if it strikes a mesh squarely without suiijcient force to drive it into the pocket. In either event the ball falls onto the table and counts nothing in points. However, the ball remains on the table until the game is nished. The next man with another ball of a diierent color has his go, and so on, until each player has served fifteen balls, whereupon the points are counted. The various-colored balls can easily be seen through the mesh of the net and each player is given proper credit, after which the balls are gathered, either 'for another game or for storing purposes. To do this, the door 18 is raised, and in so doing the projections 19 are disengaged from the notches 13 and the halls automatically roll down the strips, passing the pockets and entering the chute, where they finally enter the drawer in the base.

The automatic gathering of the balls may be dispensed with, and in lieu thereof I may withdraw the drawer, and in raising the door 18 the balls will roll off the strip 6 into said drawer; but in either construction the strips 6 will incline toward the rear, as I regard this of importance in that it tends to keep the balls from settling against the netting and possibly falling to the table. In the latter case the vertical partitions between the pockets may be made of network or in any other suitable manner.

A game thus constructed is extremely interestin g and requires great dexterity to successfully serve and delivera ball into a designated pocket, for it is to be understood the netting offers considerable resistance to the balls entering the pockets, and continual practice alone makes it possible for one to aim a ball at a certain pocket and hit the mesh in such manner that it will open to allow the ball to enter. With these obstacles to be overcome, coupled with the convenient arrangement of the parts forming the game, my invention possesses decided points which will be of interest to those interested in such pastimes.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination with a table or other support, of a pool-frame mounted on the table having a plurality of pockets with stationary designating-figures inside said pockets to indicate points, means to restrict the admission of an object to the pockets, an object to be' delivered to the pockets and means to strike said object to knock it into a pocket, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a table or other support, of a pool-frame on the table having a plurality of pockets with designating-numbers to indicate points, a mesh over the face of the pockets to oifer resistance to an object directed to the pockets, and prevent its falling out once therein, an object or objects, and means to deliver one of the objects into a pocket, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a table or other support, of a pool-frame on the table having a plurality of pockets with inclined bottoms and designating-numbers to indicate points, a net over the face of the pockets, a door forming the rear of the pockets, an object or objects, and means to deliver an object to a respective pocket, said objects falling from the pockets when the door is opened, sub stantially as described.

.4. The combination with a table or other IOO IIO

support, of a pool-frame, on the table having a plurality of pockets with inclined bottoms and designating-numbers to indicate points, a net over the face of the pockets, a door constructed of material which Will prevent the rebound of an object, forming the rear of the pockets, an object or objects, means to deliver an object to selected pockets, said objects being retained in the pockets by the door and liberated therefrom When the door is opened, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a table or other support, of an object or objects, a pool-frame on the table having a plurality of pockets, a

net over the faces of the pockets Whose meshes are normally smaller than one of the objects, and means to deliver an object through the meshes into the pockets, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a table or other support, an object or objects, a pool-frame mounted on the table which comprises an outer frame and an inner frame, the latter having a groove and openings adjacent the groove, threads laced in the openings to form a net i-n front of the pockets, means for securing the frames together, pockets formed in the innerl frame having rearwardly-inclined bottoms, a door forming the rear of the pockets,and means to deliver an object to a pocket, substantially as described.

7. The combination With a table or other support, of a plurality of objects of different colors, means for knocking the objects,a poolframe havinga series of vertical and approximately horizontal strips 1o form a series of pockets, a net over the face of the pockets whose mesh is .slightlyl smaller than the diameter of one of the objects, a door comprising a frame covered with material to prevent the rebound of an object, and having figures thereon opposite the pockets to indicate the points made by the players, said door retaining the objects in the pockets during the progress of the game, substantially as described.

8. The combination With a table or other support, an object or objects, means to knock the objects, a pool-frame mounted on the table having a plurality of pockets, means over the face of the pockets which will expand to admit of the passage of one of the objects, but will also restrict the entrance of the same, said means also serving to retain the object in the pockets, once having been driven therein, and means for liberating the objects in all the pockets at one time, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a table or other support, of an object or objects, means for knocking the objects, a pool-frame mounted on the table having a plurality of pocket-s Within the frame, and means over the faces of the pockets to restrict the admission of the objects, said pockets having inclined bottoms, a chute, a receptacle, a door, and means coacting With the door to free the objects Within the pockets to enter the chute and fall into the receptacle, substantially as described.

l0. The combination with a table or other support, an object or objects, means for knocking the objects a pool-frame mounted on the table having Within it a plurality of pockets to accommodate an individual object, means for retaining the objects delivered into the pockets during the progress of the game, an object-receptacle, and means for liberating the objects in all the pockets after the game is over, substantially as described.

1l. The combination with a table or other support, of an objector objects, means for knocking the objects, a pool-frame having a series of pockets provided with notches in their sides and having inclined bottoms, a door, and projections on the door to t in the notch es of the pockets when the dooris closed, the objects being free to roll on the inclined bottoms and out of the pockets when the door is opened, substantially as described.

l2. The combination With a table or other support, of an object or objects, means for knocking the objects, a pool-frame, a series of vertical strips arranged in the frame, a series of substantially horizontally-inclined strips arranged in the frame, both sets of strips forming pockets, a dange on each horizontal strip, notches being formed in the vertical strips, a chute and a drawer, the objects delivered to` the pockets rolling down the horizontal strips when the door is opened, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a table or other of the pockets to restrict the free entry of an object into the pockets, and a net surrounding the frame Whose mesh is of such size that the progress of a stray object Will be stopped, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a table or other support, of an object or objects, means for knocking the objects, a pool-frame having'a series of pockets therein and a net over the face of the pockets to restrict the free entry of an object into the pockets, and to retain the same therein, said objects When Within the pockets being plainly visible, substantially as described.

15. The combination With a table or other support, of an object or objects, a pool-frame on the table having a plurality of pockets, a net over the faces of the pockets, and means to deliver an object through the meshes of the net into the pockets, substantially as described.

Signed by me at New York city, county and State of New York, this 22d day of July, 1902.

CHARLES M. ATKIN S.

Witnesses:

I-I. P. WALKER, H. P. FnssnNDnN.

IIC 

